In 1988, an Ottawa, Ontario police officer instigated a criminal investigation of the Dayglos after his daughter brought home a copy of Here Today, Guano Tomorrow.
Two albums featured in the resulting trial; the covers and the lyrical content being showcased by the prosecution. Here Today, Guano Tomorrow had a cover showing a picture of a hamster eating from a box of chocolates on nice satin sheets, along with a glass of wine. A gun points at the hamster, and the back cover shows a depiction of the resulting carnage.
The previous album, Feed Us A Fetus, was perhaps a little less graphic, with a depiction of a baked fetus on the table in front of Ronald and Nancy Reagan.
This resulted in the criminal prosecution of Fringe Product, their label at the time, for distribution and possession with intent to distribute of obscene material—the first such prosecution since the offense entered the criminal code in 1959. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
The Dayglos had musical revenge in the title song of their next album, Two Dogs Fucking, in which the priggishness of Ottawa's public officials leads directly to the extinction of the human race.
On occasion, Dayglo albums having included political aspects, Holy Shiite is no exception with song titles such as "America Eats Her Young", "Christina Bin Laden", "Scientology", and "Where's Bin Laden?".
The Jack
Dayglo Abortions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She gave me the King
She was wheelin' and dealin'
Just doin' her thing
She was holdin' a pair
But I had to try
Her Deuce was wild
But my Ace was high
That she'd been dealt with before
Said she'd never had a Full House
But I should have known
From the tattoo on her left leg
And the garter on her right
She'd have the card to bring me down
If she played it right
She's got the jack, she's got the jack
She's got the jack, she's got the jack
She's got the jack, she's got the jack
She's got the jack, she's got the jack
She's got the jack, jack, jack, jack, jack, jack, jack
She's got the jack
Poker face was her name
Poker face was her nature
Poker straight was her game
If she knew she could get you
She played 'em fast
And she played 'em hard
She could close her eyes
And feel every card
But how was I to know
That she'd been shuffled before
Said she'd never had a Royal Flush
But I should have known
That all the cards were comin'
From the bottom of the pack
And if I'd known what she was dealin' out
I'd have dealt it back
She's got the jack, she's got the jack
She's got the jack, and who knows what else?
She's got the jack, yeah, yeah
She's got the jack, she's got the jack
She's got the jack, she's got the jack
She's got the jack, jack, jack, jack, jack, jack, jack
She's got the jack
She's got the jack, she's got the jack,
Ooh, It was a bad deal, (Jack)
She gave me the (Jack), hey
She's got the (Jack), she's got the (Jack)
She's got the (Jack), ooh can't you tell
She's got the (Jack, jack, jack, jack, jack, jack, jack, jack)
(She's got the jack, she's got the Jack)
She's got the jack, she's got the Jack
She's got the jack, you never know!
She's got the jack, she's got the jack
She's got the jack
She's got the jack, and it hurts!
(She's got the jack)
She's got the jack, jack, jack, jack, jack, jack, jack
She's got the jack
Aaaaaah!
Oooooh!
Thank you, thank you, thank you people, thank you, thank you
I'm glad you like the show, yes, thank you very much folks.
Goodnight and God bless!
The lyrics to The Jack by Dayglo Abortions talk about a game of poker with a mysterious woman who seems to have a talent for the game. The song opens with the singer recounting the cards the woman has given him - the Queen, the King, and a pair. The woman seems to be seasoned at the game, as she tells the singer that she has never had a Full House but has a tattoo on her left leg and a garter on her right. The singer is unaware of the woman's past experiences with the game and advances with his Ace, not knowing that the woman "had been dealt with before."
The song's chorus repeats "She's got the jack" seven times and indicates that she has an advantage in the game. The second verse continues detailing the woman's talents at the game of poker, with her having a Poker face, Poker straight, and the ability to quickly sift through a deck. The singer reflects on his own mistakes, realizing that he should have known something was up when the woman said she had never had a Royal Flush, but he was unaware that she was pulling cards from the bottom of the deck. The song ends with the singer stating she "gave me the Jack" and "it hurts."
Line by Line Meaning
She gave me the Queen
She showed me her breast.
She gave me the King
She showed me her other breast.
She was wheelin' and dealin', just doin' her thing
She was engaging in sexual activity without emotional attachment.
She was holdin' a pair, but I had to try
She had two of something, but the artist was willing to risk it.
Her Deuce was wild, but my Ace was high
The artist had an advantage over her.
But how was I to know that she'd been dealt with before
The singer was unaware of her sexual history.
Said she'd never had a Full House, but I should have known
She claimed to not have had multiple sexual partners at once, but the singer realized she was lying.
From the tattoo on her left leg and the garter on her right, she'd have the card to bring me down if she played it right
Her appearance suggested she was capable of manipulating the artist.
Poker face was her name, poker face was her nature
She was good at hiding her true intentions and emotions.
Poker straight was her game, if she knew she could get you
She was straightforward in achieving her sexual desires, and would take advantage of others when possible.
She played 'em fast, and she played 'em hard
She was aggressive in her sexual encounters.
She could close her eyes and feel every card
She was skilled and experienced in sex.
That all the cards were comin' from the bottom of the pack, and if I'd known what she was dealin' out, I'd have dealt it back
She was cheating in sexual encounters, and the singer would've retaliated if they had known.
She's got the jack, and who knows what else?
She has control and power over the singer.
She's got the jack, yeah, yeah
Reinforces that she is in control.
She's got the jack, and it hurts!
The artist is feeling pain from being manipulated by her.
Contributed by Noah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.